Asymptomatic Carriage and Determinants of Chlamydia Infections: A Study Among Women of Childbearing Age Attending the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville (Southeast Gabon)

Background Curable STIs such as Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) pose a major global public health challenge, particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, due to the complications they cause in pregnant women. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic Ct carriage and identify its determinants among women of reproductive age attending the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital.  Materials and Methods This retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted from May 11 to June 11, 2025, based on the results of real- time PCR screening tests for chlamydias performed on women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who consulted between January 2022 and December 2024. The data, including sociodemographic information, were statistically analyzed using Microsoft Excel and R software. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to evaluate associations between variables. Results were considered statistically significant for a p-value ≤ 0.05.  Results The study recorded a total of 594 medical records of women of reproductive age, with a mean age of 40.21 ± 18.45 years. Among these records, 125 (42.09%) were for women aged 21 to 40 years. The diagnosis of chlamydias revealed that 94 cases were positive, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 15.82% (95% CI: [0.13; 0.1]), while 500 results were negative (84.18%). Bivariate analysis showed that women aged 15 to 19 years (Odds Ratio = 2.32; 95% CI [1.26 - 4.18], p=0.004*), those aged 20 to 24 years (Odds Ratio = 4.74; 95% CI [2.78 - 8.1], p≤0.001), and single women (Odds Ratio = 3.83; 95% CI [2.3 - 6.55], p≤0.001) had a significantly increased risk of chlamydias. Conclusion This study highlighted a significant prevalence of chlamydias (15.82%) among women of reproductive age attending the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Hospital in Franceville. Young women and single women are particularly at risk, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to reduce the transmission of this infection. These findings contribute to the understanding of chlamydias in Central Africa and provide insights for improving local public health policies.